Feb 8 - Two Orange County Cities Move Forward on Bag and EPS Bans
The bag ban movement was busy yesterday in the Golden State, from the Bay area all the way down to southern California.
Two cities became the first in Orange County to take definite steps towards single-use bag ordinances. Laguna Beach and Dana Point both gave initial approval on bag bans, although final votes will still be required before the ordinances are passed and adopted. Dana Point also voted on an expanded polystyrene (eps) container ban.
Laguna Beach
The proposed ordinance in Laguna Beach will ban plastic bags from all retail stores as well as restaurants, while allowing paper bags with a 10 cent price requirement. If passed during a second reading, the ordinance would go into effect on January 1, 2013.
Dana Point
The City of Dana Point took on two single-use plastic issues in one meeting, initially approving both with 4-1 votes.
The proposed bag ordinance bans plastic bags from all stores and restaurants in Dana Point and would take effect one year after adoption. Details of the ordinance are still being finalized--including a possible mandatory price requirement on allowed bags--and at least two more meetings will be required before final approval is made.
The proposed eps foam takeout container ban would take place six months after adoption. It bans food vendors from distributing prepared food in eps containers.
Read more in the Orange County Register.
Stay tuned on our website for updates on these ordinances, and check our Take Action page regularly to see how you can help support these and other bag and polystyrene bans.